politics

Donald Trump captured crucial victories over Hillary Clinton in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina, showing remarkable strength Tuesday night in three of the nation’s most fiercely fought battleground states in an unexpectedly tight race for the presidency. Clinton carried Virginia and Colorado, as well as California, the nation’s largest prize. With a handful of other states still undecided, neither candidate had cleared the 270 Electoral College votes needed to win the White House. Michigan...

Voters Tuesday rejected all five local referenda in Winnebago County. The biggest margin was against the Roscoe proposal to add a 1 percent sales tax for public infrastructure. Almost 70 percent voted no. The Shirland Township Road District property tax increase was opposed by 66 percent. It would have added $33 to the annual tax bill of a $100,000 home. A request by the Hononegah High School District to approve $44 million in bonds to replace the storm-destroyed athletic field house and make...

With less than 24 hours until Election Day, gobs of money continues to flow to campaigns for the Illinois statehouse. Only a fraction of races for the Illinois state House and State Senate are really competitive. But those that are, are throwing a lot of money toward TV ads. On Chicago’s Northwest Side, incumbent Republican State Representative Michael McAuliffe brought in $232,000 just in the last week. That’s almost $100,000 more than his Democratic opponent, Merry Marwig. Four years ago,...

If you’d like to prepare for your votes in the Illinois General Election, WNIJ News offers these links to help you be informed about all the issues. Compiled below – county by county – are links that will allow you to view the sample ballots that may affect you. Following those listings are links to the campaign websites of contenders in state and federal primaries. Boone County One county referendum asks if politicians should be prohibited from taking campaign money from special interests...

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk says it's "disappointing" two groups have withdrawn endorsements. He's trying to fight off a challenge from Democratic U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth. Kirk was a rare Republican to receive recommendations from the Human Rights Campaign, which supports gay rights, and a gun control group led by former congresswoman Gabby Giffords. Both pulled their endorsements after Kirk made a wisecrack minimizing the Duckworth family legacy of military service; many critics immediately...